GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — The saga surrounding the shuttering of the Northwest High School newspaper in Grand Island will be going to federal court.

Former student Marcus Pennell, the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska and the Nebraska High School Press Association filed a lawsuit against Northwest Public Schools on Friday morning. The suit alleges the district “unconstitutionally terminated the student Newspaper Production class and award-winning print newspaper, the ‘Viking Saga’, because students published articles related to LGBTQ+ topics.”

The lawsuit says school administration told journalists last March that they could no longer use their chosen names or pronouns in the newspaper, instead directing them to use the names and pronouns listed in the school’s grading system. Pennell, who is transgender, later wrote an editorial on Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law and two other students wrote articles concerning LGBTQ+ rights. The articles were published on May 19 and the district announced three days later that the newspaper would be terminated.

The lawsuit argues the termination of the newspaper violated Pennell’s free speech rights.

The district has said the decision to axe the journalism program was unrelated to the issue in question.

But in a news release, the ACLU says it obtained emails from board members showing discussion about the issue before the decision was made.

Northwest Public Schools did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

The "Viking Saga" has since restarted in an online format with a new advisor.